Households should start adapting and taking measures to ensure they can continue functioning during power outages.
According to the Seeff Property Group, most analysts advise that loadshedding is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future and switching to solar power is one way in which you can escape the power outages, although this is a more lasting, and sustainable solution, it is also quite costly for most households.
READ: 6 crucial tips to help you prepare your home for solar energy
There are, however, more affordable, yet still sustainable ways to make your home more comfortable during loadshedding.
READ: Here is how to choose the right electricity backup and insurer
Seeff provides six tips to adapt your home to make it more convenient for loadshedding. These improvements will also add value to your property as load shed-ready homes are in demand:
Tip 1 - Install a battery-driven inverter system. A basic inverter with two 12-volt deep cycle batteries could provide power for up to four hours for a television, internet, and laptop. Wire these to the appliances so they remain on, but never boil a kettle or add a heater to an inverter system.
Tip 2- Install a petrol generator as an alternative to an inverter. A minimum of 6.5kVA could provide power for basics such as a television, lights, internet and a laptop, your fridge, and other appliances. Generators can power a kettle, microwave, and a small heater, but it is best to limit these.
Tip 3 – Fit your lights with rechargeable globes. This could ensure that you have lights during a power outage. Be sure to also fit exterior lights or install solar or battery-powered lights to keep your property lit for security purposes.
Tip 4 – Install a battery backup for your security systems. Power outages are the perfect cover for criminals. It is therefore vital to ensure your gate, garage doors, and security system remain functioning during a power outage.
Tip 5 – Switch to gas for cooking. Now is probably the ideal time to convert to gas for your cooking needs. That way mealtimes need not be interrupted. A stovetop kettle means you can still enjoy your morning coffee even during a power outage.
Tip 6 – Install a solar geyser. Replacing your geyser with a solar-powered geyser is relatively easy. One thing that SA has plenty of is sunshine to power solar systems and this way you can ensure there is always hot water, even during a prolonged power outage.
READ: The pros and cons of installing an inverter
Against the backdrop of several rounds of load shedding a warning has been issued for homeowners and business owners to test the battery systems for the alarm and security systems they use.
Seeff advises that it is probably also advisable to consider a wood-burning fireplace rather than an electric heater, or consider gas. Remember to also protect appliances that remain plugged in such as a fridge and microwave against power surges by fitting them with surge protectors.
READ: Should your complex invest in a generator and who foots the bill?
Charnel Hattingh, Head of Marketing and Communication at Fidelity ADT, says while electricity comes and goes, it's important to remain vigilant when it comes to safety and security.
“We recommend that people test these systems on a regular basis, but this has become more important now than ever before. The battery backup is a crucial element that needs to be tested, to give you the ease of mind that it will still offer monitoring and protection when the power goes out.”
“If you have a stable and correctly programmed security system coupled with a battery that is in a good condition, it will continue to protect your home or your place of work during any power outage.”
The increased occurrence of loadshedding means that there are more alarm activation signals received by armed response companies than usual.
“If the alarm is triggered because of a power surge or because of load shedding, please contact your security company as soon as possible to cancel any false alarms. This helps ensure that armed response officers are allocated to legitimate emergencies. We have introduced an automated call centre ‘agent’ to make it easier for customers to quickly cancel false alarms, which also frees up call centre staff members to concentrate on legitimate emergencies,” says Hattingh.
The only time any alarm system might not function correctly, is if there is a technical issue or the battery power is low.
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